Long-term effect of toltrazuril on growth performances of dairy heifers and beef calves exposed to natural Eimeria zuernii and Eimeria bovis infections

• Published in: The veterinary journal (1997) 2011-11, Vol.190 (2), p.296-299
• Main Authors: Veronesi, Fabrizia, Diaferia, Manuela, Viola, Orfeo, Fioretti, Daniela Piergili
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Beef calves; beef cattle; body condition; body weight; calves; Cattle - growth & development; Cattle Diseases - drug therapy; Chianina; Coccidiosis; Coccidiosis - drug therapy; Coccidiosis - veterinary; Coccidiostats - pharmacology; Coccidiostats - therapeutic use; Dairy calves; dairy heifers; diclazuril; Double-Blind Method; Drug Administration Schedule - veterinary; Eimeria - isolation & purification; Eimeria bovis; Eimeria zuernii; farms; Feces - parasitology; Growth - drug effects; growth performance; Growth performances; Linear Models; long term effects; Nitriles - pharmacology; Nitriles - therapeutic use; oocysts; Toltrazuril; Treatment Outcome; Triazines - pharmacology; Triazines - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 1090-0233; 1532-2971
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2010.10.009

The long-term effects of a toltrazuril treatment against natural Eimeria bovis and/or Eimeria zuernii infections were investigated in comparison with diclazuril and untreated controls on two dairy (Italian Friesian breed) and two beef (Chianina breed) farms. At each trial site, 30 calves were allocated into three groups of 10 calves each: T (treated with toltrazuril), D (treated with diclazuril) and C (left untreated). For 40weeks post-treatment, the calves were weighed and examined clinically and parasitologically. The oocyst counts as well as the number of scour days were significantly lower in the T group than in the D and C groups. Final bodyweights and body condition scores of the T group exceeded those of groups C and D. The results confirmed that toltrazuril was highly efficacious, safe and provided productive benefits in dairy and beef calves.